Adding Long-Eye Heddles to the Drawloom

Finally, a sunny afternoon and with extra hands at home, I was able to move 500 old string long-eye heddles to the back five shafts, on the drawloom, and add 800 of the 1,000 new string long-eye heddles (that I just finished making a few days ago) to the front four shafts.

All that is involved in adding heddles is removing the anchor pins in the jacks, one at a time, dropping the cords down through, removing and/or adding heddles to the shaft, then threading the cord back up through the holes in the jacks. A bobby-pin works great for threading the cord back up through the holes in the jacks, then put the anchor pins back in, making sure the shafts are level. (Note, this is for the older style Glimakra single unit drawloom, from 1984 or so.)

There is one shaft and accompanying jacks not on the loom. I am sure the shaft bars are upstairs, but I’m not sure about the jacks, so I will check for them tomorrow. Once they are on the loom I’ll be able to add the last 200 long-eye heddles.

Right now, I am making sure the heddles are not twisted, then adding the lower shaft bars back in. This is not a difficult task, just a bit time-consuming. I would rather do it properly now rather than encounter difficulties when threading or nearly ready to weave.

When the lower shaft bars are all in and twisted heddles are straightened out, I will add a long string to each lower shaft bar which will keep the bottom half of the heddles from slipping off the lower heddle bars. Pic(s) on that will be posted in a day or two.

The plaid towel is off the loom and upstairs along with another towel, next to my sewing machine. After the hems are sewn, a photo will be posted here. Right now, back to the heddles.

Where to Find My Weaving

MY APOLOGIES to anyone planning to visit on my studio on Sept. 2-3, I had to cancel the open studio. The Oct. 14 & 15 dates are FIRM! Shuttle Works Studio will be open for visitors, demonstrations, and opportunities to try weaving.

Open Studio days provide an opportunity to stop in and visit Shuttle Works Studio, see various Swedish looms, spinning wheels, and a 1908 Gearhart Circular Sock Knitting Machine, as well as demonstrations of weaving, spinning, and sock cranking.

http://shuttleworksstudio.com

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Sat., Oct. 7, 9 AM – 4 PM, during CranberryFest, several members of Lake Country Weavers/Fiber Arts Guild will be at UCC Church in Eagle River. Mary Jackl of What-a-View Farm will have her rag rugs, handspun yarns, and felting there. I will have weaving and hopefully CSM wool socks for sale, and be demonstrating on the sock machine. Hope to see you there!

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I will be demonstrating the sock machine at Eagle River Gallery in Eagle River, WI, on Friday, Oct. 6, and Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, outdoors if weather is nice, indoors if inclement weather.

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To visit Shuttle Works Studio outside of Open Studio dates, please call ahead and arrange a day and time. (715) 337-0453.